Car door



Jun 14, 1938.

Filed Sept. 1, 1936 5 Sheet-Sheet 1 "fA/VE/VTOR- 745/8/51. MADLAND ATTY June 14, 1938.

G. MADLAND CAR DOOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. l, 1956 ATV")? -[/\/\/E/\'/To/z- G BE/EL. MA OLAND I i I I 6 F I 1 T I 1 I I a G. MADLAND June 14, 1938.

CAR DOOR Filed Sept. 1, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 -f/\/ \/5/\/ T0R- GABR/El. MADLAND ATTY G. MADLAND June 14, 1938.

CAR DOOR Filed Sept. 1, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 VI :LH E 97 III II I r- -f/\/ VENTOR- GA fjR/EL. MADLAND KZ/MJ/ ATTX G. MADLAND June 14, 1938.

CAR DOOR Filed Sept. 1, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l I L Tr VE/VTOR GAB/{MEL MADLAND 6 W ATTX Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED sr ras PATENT OFFICE GAR DOOR Application September 1, 1936, Serial No. 98,993

19 Claims.

This invention relates to car doors and is concerned primarily with improvements in sliding car doors of the lift type and in the means for stopping and automatically locking said doors .5 in closed position.

Railway house cars utilized for the transportation of automobiles, furniture and other bulky lading are commonly provided with large side door openings requiring two oppositely sliding doors for closing each opening. One of these doors is called the main door and the other the auxiliary door. The auxiliary door is reinforced by means of a post fastened upon the inside of the front margin of the door. Castings are secured to the upper and lower ends of the posts which engage stops secured to the side plates and side sills or threshold plates of the car to stop closing movement of the auxiliary doors. When lift fixtures for sliding car doors were introduced the post castings and stops were designed to utilize the lowering movement of the doors to obtain locking thereof in closed position and the lifting or elevating of the doors to obtain release thereof.

The lower stop and locking member was se cured either directly to the side sill or to the metallic threshold plate which in turn was bolted through the floor to the side sill. This member projected upwardly above the floor of the car for cooperation with the lower post casting. There was thus presented a construction from which arose certain difficulties that the instant improvements remedy.

Where the lower stop and locking members which were customarily castings, which were secured directly to the side sill, they necessitated the gaining out of the floor boards. If a single threshold plate was used it had to be notched to permit this securement. To avoid such notching a threshold plate made in two pieces was sometimes used. Manifestly additional operations either upon the car or the threshold plate were required in consequence of which the cost of the car was increased.

Securement of the lower stop and locking member to the threshold plate also presented another objection. The threshold plate is placed upon the wooden floor of the car. This floor warps and shrinks, hence does not provide a solid backing for the threshold plate. When, therefore, the lower stop and locking member is struck in moving lading into or out of the car the threshold plate is loosened and the eillcacy of the stop and locking member is destroyed.

Difiiculty was experienced in properly aligning the upper and lower stop and locking members so that each stop would effectively cooperate with the door posts to limit closing movement of the door and to lock the post.

Standardization of design of the lower stop and locking member was impossible where such membars were intended for direct securement to the side sill. Side sills of railway cars vary in construction. Accordingly these members had to be varied in design to meet the different constructions encountered in side sills.

The most serious difiiculty presented by the lower stop and locking member is to be found in its projection above the car floor. This fact made loading and unloading of merchandise troublesome. In the case of automobiles movement 'mto and out of the cars is obtained by means of dolleys which frequently struck the projecting lower stop and locking members and swerved so abruptly as to cause the automobile to strike against and be damaged by the car.

It will be readily seen that the use of the hereinabove described lower stop and locking members was accompanied by various difliculties which required solution. This solution is supplied by the improvement involved in the hereinafter described invention.

The main object of this invention is to overcome in a simple and expeditious manner the difiiculties above enumerated by construction which shall additionally make possible a material savings in weight.

A further object is to provide a lower stop and locking member disposed outwardly of the door for cooperation therewith to stop closing movement and automatically lock said door when the latter is lowered in closed position.

A further object is to provide a member adapted to be secured to a door supporting track and have a locking abutment cooperable with the door to automatically lock said door in closed position.

A further object is to provide a member having a locking abutment secured to the door track, and to the side sill if desired, which shall permit use of a track formed in sections certain of which shall be connected and supported by means of said member.

A further object is to provide a member adapted for securement to a door track, and if desired to the side sill, said member carrying a locking abutment cooperable with a detent secured to a sliding lift door to automatically lock said door against opening movement when in closed and lowered position and automatically releasable from said door detent upon elevating movement of said door.

A further object is to provide a sliding lift door having a combined rigid corner gusset and locking detent member. a

A further object is to provide sliding lift doors having combined rigid corner gusset and locking detent members associated with said door so as to utilize parts thereof as reinforcement for said members.

A further object is to provide a member adapted to be secured to a door track and having a looking abutment cooperable with the door to automatically lock said door in closed position and to resist outward pressure of lading against the door.

Additional objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a partial elevation of a railway car embodying the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation of the lower right hand corner of the auxiliary door showing a stop and locking member for the door and the securement of said member to the contiguous track sections.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 7.

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail similar to Figure 5 showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail showing a further form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 8 showing the forward portion of the main door spaced from the auxiliary door to illustrate the vertical reinforcing member of the main door.

Figure 11 is a vertical section taken on line ll-Il of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a horizontal section taken on line l2l2 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is an enlarged elevational detail of the right hand corner of the auxiliary door, stop and locking member and portions of adjacent spaced sections of the door track.

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on line I l-l4 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a horizontal section taken on line I5l5 of Figure 13.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the numeral ID designates generally a freight car of the house car type. A door opening ll of extraordinary width is provided in each side of the car. This door opening is defined by means of the fixed door posts II and I2 which extend vertically between and are secured to the side plate l3 and the side sill it of the car. These two latter members define the upper and lower boundries of the door opening. The car H) is provided with a floor l5 supported upon the side sill l4 and fastened thereto as by means of bolts 16. A metallic threshold plate I? is fastened upon the floor by means of the bolts !6 and extends over the outer edge of the floor as indicated in Fig ure 4 of the drawings.

The door opening ll is adapted to be controlled by two oppositely sliding doors l8 and IS. The door is is commonly called the auxiliary door and the door IS the main door of the double door construction. The main door l9 comprises a metallic panel formed with a plurality of spaced horizontal corrugations 2| which merge at their ends into vertical corrugations 22 and 23 formed in the metallic panel. Marginal reinforcing members are secured to the metallic panel. As appears in Figure 2 of the drawings the forward vertical marginal reinforcing member 24 is in the form of a channel and is secured to the marginal portion of the door as by means of rivets 25 passing through the web of the channel and the door. The legs of the channel 25 are of unequal length and extend outwardly relative to the door. The rear vertical marginal portion of the door is reinforced by means of a sealing strip 26 and a buffer angle 21 secured to said marginal portion of the door as by means of rivets 28. The upper and lower horizontal marginal portions of the main door are also reinforced in the same manner as these marginal portions of the auxiliary door are reinforced. This reinforcement will be later de scribed.

The auxiliary door it also comprises a metallic panel 29 formed with a, plurality of spaced horizontal corrugations 30 which merge at their ends into vertical corrugations 3! and 32 formed adjacent the vertical edges of the panel. The for ward vertical margin of the auxiliary door is reinforced by means of a substantially Z shaped member 33 and a post 34. These members are secured to the forward marginal portion of the door as by means of rivets 35. It will be clear from Figure 2 of the drawings that the metallic panel lies outwardly of the Z shaped reinforcing member while the post 34 which is substantially Z shaped in section extends inwardly from the member 33.

The rear marginal portion of the auxiliary door is reinforced as hereinabove indicated for the rear marginal portion of the main door. Thus the rear marginal portion of the auxiliary door has secured thereto a sealing strip 26 and a buffer angle 27 these being fastened to the rear margin of the door as by means of rivets 28. The upper horizontal margin of the auxiliary door is reinforced by means of an angular member 35 having a horizontal flange 36 extending inwardly in overlapping relationship with a J shaped header 3?. The upper margin of the door is disposed behind a vertical depending flange 38 of a door retaining member 39 fas tened as by means of rivets M3 to the depending leg 45 of the side plate l3.

The lower horizontal margin of the auxiliary door is reinforced by an angular member 42 secured to the lower margin of the door as by means of rivets i3 extending through a vertically disposed leg of the reinforcing member 42. The leg 44 of said reinforcing member is disposed horizontally for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

When in closed position the main and auxiliary doors are adapted to be locked by means of a locking mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 45. An opening and closing mechanism for the main and auxiliary doors is indicated as a whole by the reference character 46.

In their closed position the main and auxiliary doors are rendered weatherproof along the rear margins by the cooperation between the door sealing strips 26 and spark and weather strips 41 secured to the fixed door posts H and I2. The association between the angular reinforcing member 35 and the door header 31 provides an effective weatherproofing condition at the top of the door.

The main and auxiliary doors are of the lift type. In their normal or lowered position these doors are adapted to be frictionally supported upon a door track 48. The frictional engagement between the door and the track is obtained by means of the horizontal leg 44 of the door reinforcing member 42 and the horizontal leg 49 of the door track. This engagement moreover affords a weather tight condition at the lower margin of the door.

In order to provide for ease of movement of the doors upon the track a mechanism commonly known as lift mechanism is utilized. This mechanism per se does not form any part of the instant invention except insofar as it imparts a vertical movement to the door utilized in the instant invention. Briefly, therefore, the lift mechanism is the same for each door and may be described as comprising a pair of spaced rollers 5t and El, each housed in its respective bracket 52 and 53. Roller housings 54 and 55 receive the rollers, these housings being additionally pivoted eccentrically to the door. Bar $6 disposed in the lowermost of the horizontal corrugations of each door connects the roller housings for simultaneous operations and movement is imparted to the roller housing by means of an operating lever 51 preferably mounted upon one of the roller housings.

It will be apparent from the foregoing brief description that if the operating lever 51 is pulled downwardly the roller housings 54 and 55 will rotate about the rollers as fulcrums thereupon effecting an elevating movement of the door and transferring the weight thereof from the track to the rollers 50 and 5!. Thereupon the doors may readily be moved upon the rollers to any desired position. When the operating lever 51 is released the door will by the action of gravity lower until frictional engagement between the angular reinforcing member 42 and the track 48 is again established. It is to be understood that the instant invention may utilize any desired form of lift mechanism in addition to that above briefly described.

In the operation of the main and auxiliary doors it is the practice to first close the auxiliary door and subsequently close the main door. Prior to the instant invention both closing and locking of the main door was obtained by means of castings secured to the upper and lower portions of the movable reinforcing post 3 1 fastened to the forward marginal portion of the auxiliary door. These post castings cooperated with upper and lower stops fastened respectively to the side plate and to the side sill or threshold plate of the car. The instant invention is concerned primarily with the elimination of the lower post stop which it will be evident from a consideration of Figure 4 of the drawings must necessarily extend upwardly above the floor l5 of the car in order to cooperate with the lower portion of the movable post 3 for the purpose hereinbefore set forth. The eliminaiton of the post stop casting and the attainment of the several objects set out is accomplished by means of the embodiments of the invention illustrated. With reference to Figure 1 to 5 inclusive, it will be seen that the track 48 is preferably formed in sections and that the sections 58 and 59 are spaced apart substantiallyv centrally of the door opening H. The adjacent portions of the track sections 58 and 59 are connected together and supported by means of a bracket member fill shown in the form of a casting. The bracket member comprises a central portion 6i reinforced by means of ribs 62 and 63. Extending in opposite directions from the central portion SI of the bracket 60 are horizontal and vertical flanges E i and 65 disposed in engagement with the horizontal flange t and the vertical flange it of the track 38. The connecting and supporting bracket 60 is riveted to the side sill as by means of rivet 61 and to the track sections 58 and 59 as by means of rivets 83B and 69. The central portion 8| of the bracket iii extends upwardly above the track sections 68 and 69 but terminates below the door opening If. The upwardly extending portion Ill of the bracket 60 provides abutment ll adapted as hereinafter explained to limit closing movement of the door and to lock said door against opening movement when in lowered position.

A detent is provided at the lower forward corner of the auxiliary door for cooperation with the locking abutment ll provided on the casting G0 in order to lock the door in its closed and lowered position. This detent is preferably provided as a part of reinforcing gusset member secured to said corner of the auxiliary door. The gusset member is indicated by the reference numeral l2 and is riveted to the lower corner of the door by the vertical row of rivets l3 and by the horizontal row of rivets M. The vertical ribs l and f6 and horizontal ribs 11 and F8 are utilized to reinforce the gusset member. A looking detent I9 is formed on the gusset member 72, this detent being reinforced by means of the rib 8!]. The gusset member 12 is formed additionally with an abutment member 81 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. It will be observed moreover that the gusset member i2 is riveted to the lower portion of the movable reinforcing post 3 whereby said post is utilized to strengthen the lower corner of the auxiliary door against outward thrusts imposed thereon by shifting of the lading within the car.

The relationship between the gusset member secured to the lower forward corner of the auxiliary door and the track supporting and connecting casting 68 is clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. In this view the auxi1- iary door is illustrated in its lowered position in which it is frictionally engaged with the track section 58. In this position the locking detent I9 lies to the right of the abutment ll so that opening movement of the door which would be toward the left as viewed in Figure 5 is prevented. When it is desired to open the auxiliary door the operating lever El will be moved downwardly whereupon an elevating movement of the door will occur and the detent member 19 will move upwardly to the door to such an extent that it will clear the locking abutment H on the casting 6i). The auxiliary door will then be disposed upon the supporting rollers and can easily be moved to open position. When it is desired to return the auxiliary door to its closed position it is again elevated and moved along the track section 58. As it reaches its closed position the abutment 8i provided on the gusset member #2 will strike the abutment ill on the bracket 58 and thereby limit closing movement of the door. Release at this time of the operating lever 5'! will cause the door to gravitate downwardly whereupon the detent 19 on the gusset member 12 will again assume the position illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. Accidental opening movement of the auxiliary door will then be prevented.

It will be clear from the foregoing detailed description that automatic stopping and locking of the auxiliary door is effected by means of the described embodiment of the invention, while at the same time the former projection of a stop casting above the floor has been eliminated. Moreover it will be apparent that the supporting and connecting bracket 60 of the adjacent portions of the track may be standardized, that a threshold plate formed of a single piece of said metal may be utilized and that the coping and gaining operations heretofore required for the threshold plate and flow are eliminated.

The bottom of the locking detent I9 is curved upwardly as indicated at 82, while the top of the locking abutment 'II is straight across the top. The curving of the bottom of the locking detent insures automatic locking engagement of the auxiliary door even though said door is not completely elevated so as to clear the locking abutment II as the door moves to closed position. In the latter event the curved bottom of the locking detent will strike the locking abutment II and automatically elevate the door sufficiently so that the detent will slide over the abutment.

With reference to Figure 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the inner face of the locking abutment 'II is convex as indicated at 83, whereby said abutment serves to guide the door in its final closing movement. Moreover the associa-' tion between the gusset member I2 and the looking abutment II is' such that said abutment is effective to resist outward thrust upon the door occasioned by shifting lading within the car.

Since the instant invention is concerned with the looking or the stopping and locking of the auxiliary door with respect to the lower portion of said door the presently utilized stopping and locking arrangement is shown for the upper portion of the door. This'arrangement comprises a casting 84 secured to the upper portion of the movable post 34 adapted to cooperate with a stop casting 85 fastened to the depending leg M of the side plate I3. This arrangement is well known in the art and further detailed description is not believed necessary.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, a somewhat modified form of the invention is illustrated. The track sections 58 and 59 are connected by means of a member 86 having a central portion 8! reinforced by means of the ribs 88 and 89 and from which there projects upwardly a locking abutment 90. The connecting member 86 which is shown in the form of a casting is provided with oppositely extending horizontal flanges 9| and the vertical flanges 92 which are secured respectively to the horizontal and vertical legs of the track sections 58 and 59. It will be observed that the connecting bracket 86 is not fastened directly to the side sill I4 as in the case of the previous embodiment of the invention. In order to secure the adjacent portions of track sections 58 and 59 to the side sill any desired track supporting brackets such as indcated partially at 93 may be utilized.

A corner gusset member is shown at 94. This member is provided with a locking detent 95 adapted to cooperate with the locking abutment on the connecting bracket 86 as indicated in the consideration of the previous embodiment of the invention. The stopping feature of the previous embodiment is not shown on the considered embodiment of the invention, altho it is to be understood that if desired such stopping feature may as well be utilized. The top of the locking abutment 98 is curved upwardly as indicated at 96 and is adapted to cooperate with the lower straight edge of the locking detent to elevate the door and obtain automatic locking engagement between said parts in the event that the door is not initially elevated sufficiently for the locking detent to clear the locking abutment. The gusset member 94 is secured to the reinforcing door post 34 as in the case of the previous embodiment. It will be apparent from a consideration of Figure 6 of the drawings that the locking abutment terminates below the top of the floor of the car.

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment of the invention as well as the modification of the main and auxiliary doors necessitated thereby is illustrated moreover in Figures 10 to 12 inclusive of the drawings. Referring to Figures 8 to 12 inclusive therefore, a gusset member 97 is illustrated secured to the lower corner of the auxiliary door and to the reinforcing door post 34.

With reference to the horizontal sectional view shown in Figure 12 of the drawings, it will be clear that a portion of the gusset member 97 as indicated at 98 extends inwardly below the Z- shaped reinforcing member 33 which is therefore coped as indicated at 99 to permit this inward extension of the gusset member. The member is provded with a locking detent I80 adapted to cooperate with a locking abutment IIlI for the purpose of preventing accidental opening movement of the auxiliary door when the latter is in its closed and lowered position. The locking abutment IBI projects upwardly above the track sections 58 and 59 but terminates below the door opening II. Said locking abutment Illl is formed as part of the central portion I82 of a track supporting and connecting bracket I83. Said bracket is secured directly to the side sill I4 as by means of rivets I84 as clearly illustrated in Fig ure 9 of the drawings. oppositely extending horizontal flanges I05 are provided on the cen tral portion I82 of the bracket and the track sections 58 and 59 are secured to these horizontal flanges as by means of rivets I86. Vertical flanges I0! abut against the vertical flange 66 at each of the track sections and may be secured to said flange if desired. As best illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings it will be seen that the locking abutment IIlI lies within the outer plane of the track sections 58 and 59 and that the door gusset member as well as the remaining parts of the track supporting bracket lie within this plane. There are no projections consequently extending outwardly beyond the track sections.

In order to obtain the above described relationship between the track supporting bracket and the outer plane of the track, the horizontal flange 44 of the lower angular door reinforcing member is coped as indicated at I08.

By reason of the extension of the gusset memher for the auxiliary door inwardly below the reinforcing 2 member 33 modification of the forward vertical margin of the main door at the corner thereof is necessitated. The outwardly extending legs of the channel reinforcing member 24 are cut away as indicated respectively at I09 and III) in Figure 10 of the drawings. In addition the horizontal flange 44 of the lower angular door reinforcing member 42 of the main door is coped as indicated at II I, whereby abutting engagement between the meeting edges of the main and auxiliary doors in the closed position thereof may be obtained.

The hereinabove detailed description of Figures 8 and 9 is applicable to Figures 10 and 11 as well. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 however does not utilize a track supporting and connecting bracket such as shown in Figures 8 and 9. A track connecting bracket H2 is utilized which is provided with a central portion II3 from which a locking abutment II4 projects above the track sections 58 and 59. The connecting bracket I it. is secured to the adjacent portions of the track sections 58 and 59 by means of rivets II5 extending respectively through horizontal flanges H6 provided on the track connecting bracket and horizontal flanges 49 of the track sections. Additional attachment of the track connecting bracket to the track sections is obtained by means of rivets III which secure together vertical flanges H3 of the bracket and the vertical flanges B6 of the track sections. Any desired track supporting brackets such as IIS may be utilized to support the track sections from the side sill I l. The cooperation and function of the locking detent and locking abutment of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the Figures 8 to 12 inclusive, is the same as described for the corresponding members of the first referred to embodiment of the invention.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 13 to 15 inclusive, comprises a track connecting bracket EEEI having a central portion IZI from which extend in opposite directions horizontal and vertical track attaching flanges IN and I22, respectively. A locking abutment I23 projects upwardly above the track sections 58 and 5S and terminates below the door opening. It will be clear from a consideration of Figure 14 of the drawings that the track connecting bracket I20 lies within the outer plane of the track sections. Additional track supporting brackets such as I24 may be utilized to support the spaced ends of the track sections 53 and 53, the supporting brackets being secured to the side sills by means of rivets I25.

The lower forward corner of the auxiliary door is provided with a gusset member I26 which is secured to the door and to the reinforcing post 34 by the rivets I2'I. Additional rivets I28 and I29 are utilized to fasten the gusset member to the door. The gusset member I26 is provided with a recess I30 thereby defining abutment I3I and a detent I32. In the movement of the door to its closed position the abutment I3I will cooperate with the abutment on the track connecting bracket I23 to limit closing movement of the door and in the lowering movement of the door when in its closed position locking association will be established between the detent I32 and the locking abutment I23. When this locking relationship is established it will be clear that the locking abutment I23 will project up- Werdly into the recess I30 provided in the door gusset member I26. The locking abutment I23 will thus be completely enshrouded and protected against blows. 'As in the previously described embodiment of the invention the track connecting bracket cooperates with the door to resist outward pressure upon the door.

It will be observed that in each of the embodiments of invention the gusset member is disposed in abutting relationship with the web of the 2 bar reinforcing member 33 which constitutes a stop for the main door as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. By virtue of the relationship above set forth between the gusset member and the Z bar member 33, the latter is made to serve as a backing member for the gusset member .to aid in resisting blows upon the detent of the gusset member occasioned by the tendency of the door to move toward open position.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of 'the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections, said member having an upwardly projecting stop and locking abutment terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, said auxiliary door having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof, said gusset memher having an abutment adapted to engage'the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door.

2. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced. apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections, said member having an upwardly projecting stop and locking abutment terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, said auxiliary door having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof, said gusset member having an abutment adapted to engage the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door and cooperating means secured to said auxiliary door and said car adjacent the upper margin of said door for stopping and automatically locking said door.

3. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections, said member having an upwardly projecting stop and locking abutment terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, said auxiliary door lying inwardly of said stop and locking abutment and having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof, said gusset member having an abutment adapted to engage the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door.

4. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections, said member having an upwardly projecting stop and looking abutment disposed between said spaced track sections and terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, said auxiliary door having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof, said gusset member having an abutment adapted to engage the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door.

5. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections and to said car, said member having an upwardly projecting stop and looking abutment terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, said auxiliary door having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof, said gusset member having an abutment adapted to engage the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door.

6. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections, said connecting member lying within the outer plane of 7 said track and having an upwardly projecting stop and locking abutment terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, said auxiliary door having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof, said gusset member having an abutment adapted to engage the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door.

7. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections, said member having an upwardly projecting stop and locking abutment terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, said auxiliary door having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof, said gusset member having an abutment adapted to engage the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door, said stop and locking abutment having an inner convex face cooperable with said auxiliary door in the closing movement of the latter to force said door toward said car and insure locking relationship between said stop and locking abutment and said door detent.

8. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections, said member having an upwardly projecting stop and locking abutment terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, said auxiliary door having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof, said gusset member having an abutment adapted to engage the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door, said stop and locking abutment cooperating with said auxiliary door in the closed position of the latter to resist outward pressure on said door.

9. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections, said member having an upwardly projecting stop and locking abutment terminating below said door opening,

main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, a reinforcing post secured to the forward margin of said auxiliary door, said auxiliary door having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof and to said reinforcing post, said gusset member having an abutment adapted to engage the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door.

10. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart substantially at the center of said opening, a connecting member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections, said member having an upwardly projecting locking abutment terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors adapted for sliding movement upon said track, said auxiliary door having a gusset member secured to the lower forward corner thereof, said gusset member having an abutment adapted to engage the abutment on said track connecting member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement of said door and a locking detent adapted to engage said abutment on said track connecting member when said auxiliary door is lowered to prevent opening movement of said door.

11. In a railway house car having a door opening, a track secured to said car below said opening, a member secured to said track having a locking abutment disposed below said door opening, a lift door for said opening adapted for sliding movement upon said track, a locking detent and an abutment provided on said door, said door abutment being engageable with said abutment on said member in the elevated position of said door to limit closing movement thereof and said door detent being associated in locking relationship with said abutment on said member by lowering movement of said door to prevent opening movement thereof.

12. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart, each spaced track section having a horizontal flange and an outer downwardly extending vertical flange, a member extending between and secured to said spaced track sections and having horizontal and vertical flanges abutting the corresponding flanges of said sections, a looking abutment on said member disposed between and extending upwardly above said track sections, said abutment terminating below said door opening, a lift door for said door opening adapted for sliding movement upon said track, a locking detent provided on said door, said detent being associated in locking relationship with said abutment by lowering movement of said door for the purpose set forth.

13. In a railway house car having a door opening, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart, each spaced track section having a horizontal flange and an outer downwardly extending vertical flange, a member extending between and secured to said separate track sections and having horizontal and vertical flanges abutting the corresponding flanges of said sections, a looking abutment on said member disposed between and extending upwardly above said track sections, said abutment terminating below said door opening and lying within the outer plane of the vertical flange of said track sections, a lift door for said door opening adapted for sliding movement upon said track, a locking detent provided on said door, said detent being associated in locking relationship with said abutment by lowering movement of said door for the purpose set forth.

14. A door adapted to be mounted upon a railway house car for horizontal and vertical movements relative to said car, said door comprising a gusset member secured to a lower corner thereof, said member having a downwardly opening recess defining spaced vertical walls, one of said walls being adapted to limit closing movement of said door and the other of said walls being adapted to lock said door against opening movement.

15. In a railway house car having a door opening and an under-frame including a side sill, a sectional track secured to said car below said opening, sections of said track being spaced apart,

said door opening, a lift door for said door opening adapted for sliding movement upon said track, a locking detent provided on said door, said detent being associated in locking relationship with said abutment by lowering movement of said door for the purpose set forth.

16. In a railway house car having a door opening, a track below said door opening, means secured to said car and track for supporting said track, said means including a locking abutment terminating below said door opening, a lift door for said opening adapted for sliding movement upon said track, a locking detent on said door, Said detent being associated in looking relationship with said abutment by lowering movement of said door to prevent opening movement thereof and being released from said abutment by elevating movement of said door.

17. A metallic door adapted to be mounted upon a railway house car for horizontal and vertical movements relative to said car, said door com- I prising a metallic panel and a metallic member secured to and along the front marginal portion of said panel said member including a vertical flange extending outwardly from said panel and a gusset member having a locking detent secured to a corner of said panel, said flange of said metallic member engaging and providing an abutment for said gusset member.

18. In a railway house car having a door opening, a track secured to said car below said opening, a locking abutment secured to and extending above said track and terminating below said door opening, main and auxiliary lift doors slidably supported on said track, a front stop member for said main door secured to the forward vertical margin of said auxiliary door, a gusset member having a locking detent secured to the forward lower corner of said auxiliary door, said stop member terminating above the lower edge of said door, said gusset member projecting below and inwardly of said stop member, said main door having a substantially channel shaped vertical reinforcing member secured to the forward vertical margin thereof, the flanges of said channel member at the bottom thereof being coped whereby r the front vertical margins of said doors may be properly associated in closed position, said detent member on said auxiliary door having locking relationship with said abutment by lowering movement of said door for the purpose set forth.

19. In a railway house car having a door opening, a track secured to said car below said opening, said track having a horizontal flange and an outer vertical depending flange, a member secured to said track having horizontal and vertical flanges abutting the corresponding flanges of said track, a locking abutment on said member, said abutment and said member lying within the outer plane of said vertical track flange, a lift door adapted for sliding movement upon said track, a locking detent on said door, said detent being associated in locking relationship with said abutment by lowering movement of said door to prevent opening movement thereof.

GABRIEL MADLAND. 

